Micron Technology Inc reported the largest quarterly results in its history after Wednesday's market close, producing a performance that reverberated through the semiconductor sector in after-hours trading.
The chipmaker posted fiscal third-quarter 2026 revenue of $41.46 billion, compared with a Wall Street consensus of $35.69 billion - a 16.2% beat. On the bottom line, Micron reported earnings per share of $25.11 versus the $20.49 estimate, a 22.6% upside surprise. Micron shares climbed about 12.6% in extended trading to roughly $1,180.97 after having closed the regular session at $1,047.20.
That outsize print set off a broad after-hours rally. SanDisk Corporation surged roughly 10.2% to about $2,110, and Western Digital Corporation rose about 10.2% to near $709.15. Qualcomm Incorporated moved up approximately 12.7% to $222.44. Among other major names, Advanced Micro Devices Inc increased about 3.4% to approximately $537.51, Intel Corporation advanced roughly 3.4% to around $136.12, and Nvidia ticked up about 0.5% to roughly $200.08. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) gained about 4.1% in after-hours trade to near $625.94, having ended the regular session down 0.31% at $601.50.
The timing of Micron's blowout results was notable. The memory-chip group had sold off sharply earlier in the week amid worries over AI-related spending; on Tuesday SanDisk plunged 12.4%, Western Digital fell 8.4% and Micron itself dropped 13.2% during a sector-wide decline. Micron's regular-session performance on Wednesday offered little relief before the earnings release, closing down about 0.44% prior to the after-hours surge.
The magnitude of Micron's beat reflects an almost fourfold increase in revenue year-over-year, a shift the company attributed in its results to a tight memory supply environment that has pushed prices markedly higher as AI data-center buildouts continue. That dynamic has driven a dramatic re-rating of Micron's stock: the company’s 52-week range sits between $103.38 and $1,213.56, and the stock had risen roughly 700% over the previous year before Wednesday's regular session. SanDisk's after-hours share level near $2,110 implies a gain of about 3,952% from its 52-week low of $40.10, the most extreme move among the memory-chip group.
For investors who stayed through a volatile week, the results serve as what many will view as a high-stakes validation of the AI-driven memory thesis. The central question now is whether the after-hours momentum will extend into Thursday's open. Guidance for the fiscal fourth quarter and commentary on next-generation HBM4 pricing were not yet available when the results were released, and those forward-looking details will be watched closely for signs on whether the memory pricing cycle still has room to run or is nearing a cyclical top.
Analyst price-target revisions from major banks were expected to follow in the hours after the earnings release. The company also referenced strategic customer agreements in the earnings materials; market participants noted those agreements merit scrutiny for specifics on counterparties and the scope of the deals.
If SOXX's after-hours level around $625.94 holds into the next session, it would mark a notable recovery toward its 52-week high of $655.95 and partially reverse the two-session decline seen earlier in the week. Pre-market trading on Thursday, June 25, was identified as the first tangible test of whether Micron's record quarter can restore market conviction in the AI chip cycle after the week's severe pullback.
What to watch next
- Company guidance for fiscal fourth quarter and any commentary on pricing trends for next-generation memory products, including HBM4.
- Analyst updates and price-target revisions that may follow the earnings release.
- Details in the strategic customer agreements mentioned in the earnings release, including counterparties and deal scope.